Single Stage Setup Questions

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Olympus

Olympus

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Been a reloader for a long time and have never really found a single stage setup that works well for me. Last year I bought one of the Frankford Arsenal M Presses because it had a lot of features I liked and thought it would be a good press. The overall design is good, but there a few little things that annoy me about the press. The first thing is that the set screw that you tighten in the bushings doesn't stay tight and eventually the die becomes lose in the bushing. I found that I was constantly having to retighten the set screw on all of my dies after a little use. Then the second thing that annoyed me is that the ball detent that adjusts how tight the bushings fit into the slot on the press also gradually starts backing out and the die/bushing has too much play and the cases don't align with the die anymore. If you're not paying attention, you'll crush a case and if you are paying attention you'll have to push the die/bushing back in the slot more in order for the case not to hit on the mouth of the dies. It's just more hassle and I don't want a single stage press that I have to hassle with.

So now I'm looking at other single stage options, ones that have a quick load bushing setup where I can set the dies in a bushing and not have to worry about adjusting them each time I remove them from the press. The top contenders right now are the Hornady Iron Press, the Hornady LnL Single Stage, and maybe the RCBS because they can be modified to use the Hornady LnL bushings also. If I went over to the Hornady LnL bushing system, what does everyone use to stor their die sets in when they have the bushings on them? I'm using mostly Lee rifle dies.
 
If you like the concept of the Frankford press but not the execution, you should look at the Forster Co-ax that Frankford tried to copy.
 
I have three Hornaday Lock n Load presses that I use and like them. I do have a few RCBS RockChucker presses but do not have then set up yet. But I gave two RockChucker presses to my 2nd son. He has one setup with the Lock n load adapter and the other one without the adapter. He likes both of them.

Before buying another press did you try swapping out the lock rings on the dies?.
Alot of people like the Hornaday Lock rings.
I have lotsof die sets mostly RCBS and Hornaday. The dies fit in the boxes with the Hornaday bushings on them.
Well Lee that's another story. Look for empty RCBS die boxes on ebay maybe at the local gun shows or advertise on the gun forums for empty boxes.
 
Reading your description, I'm wondering if you are not doing it wrong. The allen head setscrew is to lock the die ring in place, not necessarily to secure it to the press. Normal procedure would be to set the die for proper operation, lock the ring in place with the set screw, and then snug the lock ring down to the press with a wrench, etc. Once the die is set... the sizer die, for example... you shouldn't normally have to loosen the lock ring ever again.

I'm one of the few people who is not a fan of the LNL-type bushing systems for presses. I had a LNL single-stage press, and... yes... the LNL bushings saved me 15 seconds every time I switched a die, but I think the bushings introduced an abnormal amount of play into the reloading process... and I am by no means Mr Exact. I sold my LNL off, and bought a used RockChucker.

I will say, as Highland mentions... I LOVE the Hornady lock rings... I have them on all my dies. I have the wrench that fits the Hornady cutouts in their lock rings... so I spin the dies in and snug them down quickly with the flat wrench... and off I go. IMHO, it's a far better solution than the bushing-type system.
 
Charlie98 said:
Reading your description, I'm wondering if you are not doing it wrong. The allen head setscrew is to lock the die ring in place, not necessarily to secure it to the press. Normal procedure would be to set the die for proper operation, lock the ring in place with the set screw, and then snug the lock ring down to the press with a wrench, etc. Once the die is set... the sizer die, for example... you shouldn't normally have to loosen the lock ring ever again.

I'm one of the few people who is not a fan of the LNL-type bushing systems for presses. I had a LNL single-stage press, and... yes... the LNL bushings saved me 15 seconds every time I switched a die, but I think the bushings introduced an abnormal amount of play into the reloading process... and I am by no means Mr Exact. I sold my LNL off, and bought a used RockChucker.

I will say, as Highland mentions... I LOVE the Hornady lock rings... I have them on all my dies. I have the wrench that fits the Hornady cutouts in their lock rings... so I spin the dies in and snug them down quickly with the flat wrench... and off I go. IMHO, it's a far better solution than the bushing-type system.
Click to expand...

You don't use lock rings with the M Press. You thread the die into the big die block that slides in an out of the press and that die block has an allen head screw in the side that you tighten against the threads of the die in the die block and that is what is supposed to hold the die in place and keep it from backing out or turning.
 
I have the LnL AP and have a RCBS Rock Chucker. I got the conversion and some arbor shims to shim the bushing adapter on the RCBS so that my dies are setup between presses. It works slick for what my intentions are. I actually set the dies up individually on the Rock Chucker and move them over to the LnL, run the LnL quick for a double check and off I go.
 
Olympus said:
You don't use lock rings with the M Press. You thread the die into the big die block that slides in an out of the press and that die block has an allen head screw in the side that you tighten against the threads of the die in the die block and that is what is supposed to hold the die in place and keep it from backing out or turning.
Click to expand...

Gotcha. Unusual, indeed!
 
Olympus said:
Been a reloader for a long time and have never really found a single stage setup that works well for me. Last year I bought one of the Frankford Arsenal M Presses because it had a lot of features I liked and thought it would be a good press. The overall design is good, but there a few little things that annoy me about the press. The first thing is that the set screw that you tighten in the bushings doesn't stay tight and eventually the die becomes lose in the bushing. I found that I was constantly having to retighten the set screw on all of my dies after a little use. Then the second thing that annoyed me is that the ball detent that adjusts how tight the bushings fit into the slot on the press also gradually starts backing out and the die/bushing has too much play and the cases don't align with the die anymore. If you're not paying attention, you'll crush a case and if you are paying attention you'll have to push the die/bushing back in the slot more in order for the case not to hit on the mouth of the dies. It's just more hassle and I don't want a single stage press that I have to hassle with.

So now I'm looking at other single stage options, ones that have a quick load bushing setup where I can set the dies in a bushing and not have to worry about adjusting them each time I remove them from the press. The top contenders right now are the Hornady Iron Press, the Hornady LnL Single Stage, and maybe the RCBS because they can be modified to use the Hornady LnL bushings also. If I went over to the Hornady LnL bushing system, what does everyone use to stor their die sets in when they have the bushings on them? I'm using mostly Lee rifle dies.
Click to expand...
I find the side lock hornaday lock rings just as good as any bushing. They may take a few seconds longer to change but hold the setting so that's what I care about. Any of the cast iron O design presses are plenty good. Pick your color and be happy. I choose green but red or orange will work.
 
I agree with the nuisance issue with the various screws in the Frankford Arsenal M Press. I love this press despite its issues. I have a Hornady L-N-L Classic press...my first press. Great single stage, and I still use it quite frequently.

Addressing your die - the way that I dealt with this was to buy a box of Shot Shells so I could rip one open for the lead balls. I don't know anyone around that I could borrow a shell, so I bought a box. I insert a lead ball in front of the set screw, then tighten the screw, crushing the lead shot into the die threads. I wish there was a 3-d printed clamshell die block to really squeeze the die threads... but I don't know of anyone with such a printer or the interest in making one...small market. For now, the lead shot works for me. The detent ball...don't have a solution for that, but that isn't as problematic for me as the loosening die issue, which seems resolved for the moment.

Despite the challenges I love the FA M-Press for decapping and resizing functions. I can process a lot faster with the M-Press due to the lack of shell holders. I just drop and go and it's phenomenal. Not as much a benefit with other loading functions as I take my time with those.
 
CoalCrackerAl said:
I run with turret press's now. I use my single stage press's for utility work.
Click to expand...
Had a Lyman All American 8 and the on-press priming was garbage. I just never really clicked with that press. Had a Lee Classic Turret that I used for pistol rounds when I first started and that was a good press for what I needed at the time. Now I'm really looking for a dedicated rifle press. Something for small batches of rounds and tight tolerances.
 
I probably have a extra RockChucker press tucked away upstairs. There should be a few on ebay as well.
 
I have a RC II and RC IV that have been converted to the Hornady L-N-L bushings. All my dies and even two Uniflows. System works great and is very consistent. Love being able to twist and dump my Uniflows powder back into the container without tools or spinning threads forever.

The Hornady Sure-Lock rings are sweet, also.
 
Olympus said:
You don't use lock rings with the M Press. You thread the die into the big die block that slides in an out of the press and that die block has an allen head screw in the side that you tighten against the threads of the die in the die block and that is what is supposed to hold the die in place and keep it from backing out or turning.
Click to expand...
How many blocks come with the press ?
 
I stopped using the on board priming on my Lyman turret press. After i got the RCBS bench primer. I didn't have any trouble with the priming system. Other than it would get in the way sometimes. I load rifle with the Lyman. My lee turret is nice for handgun. And 223. I hand place each primer on that press. The goofy thing they sent with it for primer dispensing i sold long ago.
 
I still use my RCBS JR2 single stage for most of my rifle cases. I don't reset my dies. Once the die is set, I lock down the lock ring and mark it and the die in at 6'oclock position. When I re-install the die again I just run it down till the die is tight and the marks are at 6"oclock again.
 
Hugger-4641 said:
I still use my RCBS JR2 single stage for most of my rifle cases. I don't reset my dies. Once the die is set, I lock down the lock ring and mark it and the die in at 6'oclock position. When I re-install the die again I just run it down till the die is tight and the marks are at 6"oclock again.
Click to expand...
Same practice here.... seems like it works just fine.
 
Olympus said:
f I went over to the Hornady LnL bushing system, what does everyone use to stor their die sets in when they have the bushings on them?
Click to expand...

If you use Hornady Die box's, your bushing-equipped dies will fit.
Redding, RCBS and Lee box's? Not really.
 
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